Gloom and Doom (Category: Divided We Fail)
|
March 26, 2008 |
9:32 AM
It’s early, so I will rain on your parade and get it over with. Yesterday, the Social Security and Medicare Trustees report brought us some not very good news. The Cliff Notes version is that Medicare is facing a tough future, one that's not likely to get any easier if we contine to ignore the elephant in the room: skyrocketing heatlh care costs.
And Social Security also faces a tough outlook. It is a reminder that it’s time for our political leaders to get to work on our nation’s problems. Bottom line, the sooner we tackle these problems, the more feasible the solutions.
People say they are ready for the solution – a new survey out this week by the AFL-CIO on health care says it all. According to U.S. News and World Report:
Among those surveyed, 95 percent said health care in America needed fundamental change or a complete overhaul. Seventy-four percent of 18- to 29-year-olds said health care was a very important election issue, as did 80 percent of 50- to 64-year olds.”
Sounds like pretty much everyone is ready for a change.
Comments
rdan says:
I suggest you take a closer look at the trustees report and use their numbers to explain to AARP members that social security is NOT in as much trouble as alarmists are saying. Please be very careful how the organization goes about fixing Social Security, since even if it stops overpaying later it will only have modest increases to resume pay go (2%) in the weekly paycheck, but people will be making a lot more in those years.
If we resume pay go now, it can be done now without huge fuss except the general fund will show a huge increase in the deficit which the Social Security fund now masks. The numbers can be explained rather well and clearly if you want.
03/27/08 6:43 PM
Dan Carpita says:
What must be disclosed to the membership is who the trustees are and what their connections are. It is criminal to create fear in those who have worked and counted on Social Security as well as Medicare. There is never a mention of how the $5000/second costs of the war in Iraq are being financed. I have paid into SS for 58 years and am still working. I didn't do that to finance a war.
03/28/08 12:44 PM
Harry Childers says:
Social Security troubles will start when the cash flow becomes negative (in 2016, I believe). The scam of the "trust fund" will then become apparent, when any cash-in of the Treasury bonds increases the deficit. At that time, some combination of increasing deficit increase, raising taxes,or reducing benefits outflow is necessary. I doubt that any current politician will make a real attempt to resolve a crisis that is that far away since any attempt to put the current excess inflow into a real savings/investment account will just cause the deficit to balloon. The current congressional leaders are starting to talk seriously with some groups about the problem, but I expect little direct action for another 5 years or so.
03/28/08 4:55 PM
Chester Draski says:
Are any of the other members of arrp concerned that our goverment is Giving our social security to illegals and people who never paid in a dime. No wonder it is a concern ablut going broke. We allow people to bring their aged Parents to this country then contribute to the support of them.
03/28/08 7:58 PM
Russ.K says:
Do we really want our retirement to be controlled by government entitlement program(s)? People have to take responsibility for themselves. We live in a capitalistic republic where freedom abounds.
Start saving now, today, no matter what age, no matter what amount.
...and stop buying what you cannot afford!!!
03/30/08 3:54 PM